Abu Dhabi: UAE Soaks in Karnataka's Splendour at Vishwa Kannada Sammelana
Report: Shodhan Prasad
Pics: Oswald / Shoban Sameeha
Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Jan 28: Vishwamanava Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Kalaniketana (R) Bangalore in association with Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha organised the 'Kuvempu Kalaa Utsava - 2nd Vishwa Kannada Sammelana Abu Dhabi 2012' at Sheikh Zayed Auditorium, Abu Dhabi Indian School, Abu Dhabi on Friday January, 27 from 11 am to 9 pm.
A procession with traditional drums and horns led the group of invitees from the main entrance to the hall which was decorated with a beautiful banner.
The programme started with lighting the lamp by the invited guests and prayer song by Divya Sharma and Group from Abu Dhabi followed by regional patriotic song by Rathnamala Prakash and Group of Bangalore who sang "bharatha jananiya thanujathe...jaya he Karnataka maate". It is said to be that the group who sang this song holds a Guinness world record for being played 3600 times in one stage.
Mangala Shetty welcomed the gathering and presented audio/video presentation on the day's programme with details of the legendary great Kannada poet Kuvempu (K V Puttappa).
The event was inaugurated by Sri Sri Sri Kumarachandrashekaranatha Swamiji, Padmashree Dr B R Shetty, patron UAE Kannadiga's followed by guests of honour, Rajannna, senior BJP leader, Eliyas Sanctis, D Prakash Dr D Javre Gowda, Kannada poet Dr Malali Vasantha Kumar, Sarvotham Shetty and Sammelana president Dr Latha Rajashekar. Other guests include Zafarula Khan Mandya, Dr Rajashekar, Shivanand Hebbar, Srinivas Srirangam, Sachindranath Shetty and others.
D. Prakash, President of Vishwamanava Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Kalaniketana gave a inaugural speech while Sarvotham Shetty President of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha gave a welcome speech and did the honours to the Sponsors. "Kuvempu Antharashtriya Manava Prashasti" were honoured to Zafarulla Khan Mandya, Rajanna, Laxminarayan V.N., Elias Sanctis, Dr B R Shetty and Dr Chandrakumari B R Shetty, Dr Malali Vasanth Kumar, Sarvotham Shetty, Dr Prakash, Satish Kumar Hosmani, Shekar B. Shetty, Srinivas Srirangam, Dharmapal Devadiga, Ramesh B.V., Satish Venkataramana, D. Rajaramanna, Rathnamala Prakash, B.G. Mohandas, Shivkumar Mangdi, Shivanand Hebbar, Anil Basagi, Pravin Shetty, Ravish Gowda, Krishnappa Bangalore, N.S. Krishnappa, Roopa and G. Nagaraj. There was a book release on Ex-CM of Karnataka, S.M. Krishna by B.H. Suresh followed by special HMT watch release and 'Parisara' CD of Suresh Babu released during the function.
A janapada nrutya titled 'Jaathre' was beautifully presented followed by semi classical dance "jaya bharata jananiya thanujathe jaya hay karnataka maate" by Sri Vidya and Group excellently presented. Then was 'Kamsale' dance by Rani Abbakka Group of Dubai followed by "Hacchevu Kannadadha Deepa" solo well presented by Kumari Srilakshmi of J M Palya Bangalore was widely applauded.
Soon was Farmers song melodiously rendered by Kikkeri Krishnamoorthy, Sandhya Iyer, B N Suresh, Roopa Upadhyaya and Savithri Bidhari Prasad of Adarsha Sugama Sangeetha Academy of Karnataka. Later Harish Sherigar of Acme Building Materials Dubai presented "Noorondu Nenepu Yedeaaladindha" and "Aaseya Bhaava" Kannada filmy songs in his melodious voice.
Film and Doordarshan artist Nagaraj Kote took the audience to the laughter world with his humours speach. Nagaraj Kote is being credited with various awards back in India and here on the stage Dr B R Shetty felicitated him with garland and memento. C.R. Jadav an well known advocate invitee was also felicitated during the function.
There was a delicious buffet lunch served by Foodlands Hotel, Abu Dhabi with both vegetable and non-vegetable dishes including 'payasa' and 'laddu'.
Soon after the noon-break was "Shamanthaka" Kannada Yakshagana Ballet well presented by Yakshmitraru Dubai. Sri Vidya and Group presented a dance drama titled "Kuvempu Madhura Nritya" followed by another dance drama "Sathya Harishchandra" presented by Anitha Anand Kumar and Group of Sirigandha Mahila Mandali BG.
Later Literature Summit was conducted with Dr D Javre Gowda, Latha Rajshekar, Malali Vasanth Kumar, Maayi Gowda and B H Suresh.
Kuvempu Vishwa Kannada Ratna International Awards were presented to K Nagaraj, Prakash Rao Payyar, Mamata, Kikkeri Krishnamoorthy, Arshad Hussain, Ganesh Rai, Arun Muthugadhur, Savitha Naik, K R Tantri, Chidanand Poojary, Gopinath Rao, Pratima Shetty, Jayanth Shetty, Mangala Shetty, Vishwanath Shetty, Rajesh Kathar, Anitha Anand, Ramesh, B H Suresh, Dr Shanker, Bhupendra Kumar Shetty, Dr Anil Kumar, H N Ramachandra, Ramanajaanappa, Jyothiba, Choodamani, Girish, Padma, Jagannath Ganiga, Gopalakrishna, D Prakash, Sarvotham Shetty, Latha Rajshekar, Divya Sharma, Irshad Moodabidri, B N Shekar, Malali Vasanth Kumar, Mayi Gowda and Members of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sanga.
Sri Sri Sri Kumarachandrashekaranatha Swamiji was felicitated and in return he spoke few words highlighting non-resident Kannadigas who have really kept the Karnataka flag flying high up and also on the importance of our traditional values which is one of the richest tradition in the world.
Sammelana president Dr Latha Rajashekar a well known poetess herself has to her credit, various poems for the first time written on Lord Budha, Lord Jesus Christ, Basavanna etc gave a formal speech beautifully thanking each and every one for making the 'Sammelana' possible here in Abu Dhabi. Followed were Zafarulla Khan Mandya and the well known poet Dr Javere Gowda an ardent follower of Kuvempu rendered brief speeches on the great national poet Kuvempu.
Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha felicitated Dr Javre Gowda, Sammelana President Dr Latha Rajashekar, Dr Malali Vasanth Kumar and D. Prakash with flower and memento. The proceedings were done by Shekar Shetty, Zafarulla Khan, Sudhir Shetty and Shivanand Hebbar along with Swamiji. Media personalities were called upon and felicitated along with Satish Poojary who was elected as the new president of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha recently.
Choodamani of Dollu Kunitha Thanda Sagara presented the 'dollu kunitha' the first solo done by an elderly women elsewhere.
Followed was 'hanigavana' chaired by Irshad Moodabidri, Arthur Pereira, Nagaraj Kote, Avanish Bhat and Arshad Hussain humoursly created and presented.
In the concluding stage, Ratnamala Prakash, Kikkeri Krishnamoorthy and Group continued with melodious hair raising songs followed by guest artists Smt. Vijaya Satyanaryana from Bahrain and Anil Basagi from Muscat performing golden memories of Kannada Cinema duets titled 'amara madhura geethe'.
At the end was a lucky draw and the day-long programme concluded at around 9 pm.